One of the Bay Area's most successful football coaches is returning to his alma mater, Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Ken Peralta, 52, who led Marin Catholic-Kentfield to a state bowl game in 2009 after helping Riordan to a historic WCAL crown in 2000, was named the Irish's head coach Friday.

Peralta graduated from Sacred Heart in 1979. He stepped away from his head-coaching duties at Marin Catholic in 2010 to watch his son Jerry play for the Irish.

Three years' observation has given him an understanding of the challenges facing the program - off-site practice facilities and dwindling roster numbers (34 on the roster last year) - but he remains optimistic.

"We have everything we need here to win," Peralta said. "As long as I'm here, you won't hear anything about a lack of facilities. You'll never hear 'woe is me.' ... From the facilities to playing at one of the most historic stadiums in the state (Kezar Stadium) to a brand-new weight room to the best weights coach in the league (Colin Peuse) to an administration that wants to be top-tier to good players and good kids, I see nothing but total upside.

"I wouldn't come back to doing this if we were playing for sixth place. We're going to play for first place."

Peralta replaces John Lee, who wasn't rehired after nine seasons, a 45-50 record and one Central Coast Section title. In seven seasons at Marin Catholic, Peralta went 65-24 and won four North Coast Section titles.